2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code O70.20Third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›O00-O9A›O60-O77›O70

ICD-10-CM O70.20
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

O70.20 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to maternity cases (age 9 through 64). In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under OB-related trauma to perineum and vulva.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
O70.20
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unspecified
Short Description
Third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unsp
Parent Code
O70.2
Third degree perineal laceration during delivery

Code Classification

ChapterO00-O9APregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
SectionO60-O77Complications of labor and delivery
CategoryO70Perineal laceration during delivery
This CodeO70.20Third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unspecified

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for O70.20.

Maternity diagnoses
The Medicare Code Editor detects inconsistencies in maternity cases by checking a patient's age and any diagnosis on the patient's record. The maternity code edits apply to patients age ange is 9–64 years inclusive (e.g., diabetes in pregnancy, antepartum pulmonary complication).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Laceration of anus
  • Open wound of anus
  • Third degree perineal laceration
  • Type 3a third degree laceration of perineum
  • Type 3b third degree laceration of perineum
  • Type 3c third degree laceration of perineum

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Delivery(childbirth) (labor)
      • complicated
        • by
          • laceration (perineal)
            • anus (sphincter)
              • with third degree laceration
    • Delivery(childbirth) (labor)
      • complicated
        • by
          • laceration (perineal)
            • perineum, perineal
              • third degree
    • Delivery(childbirth) (labor)
      • complicated
        • by
          • laceration (perineal)
            • rectovaginal (septum) (without perineal laceration)
              • with perineum
    • Laceration
      • perineum
        • female
          • during delivery
            • third degree
    • Tear, torn(traumatic)
      • anus, anal (sphincter)
        • complicating delivery
          • with third degree perineal laceration

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR PRG026
OB-related trauma to perineum and vulva
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Third Degree Perineal Laceration

    injury to perineum involving anal sphincter complex. (adapted from revitalize)

Convert O70.20 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
664.21 Del w 3 deg lacerat-del
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
664.24 Del w 3 deg lac-postpart
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement O70.20 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • O70.2 - Third degree perineal laceration during delivery
FY 2018AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2017.
FY 2019–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About O70.20Overview

Is O70.20 (Third degree perineal laceration during delivery) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Who can O70.20 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unspecified against patient demographics: this code is intended for maternity cases (age 9 through 64). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of O70.20?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 664.21 (del w 3 deg lacerat-del) and 664.24 (del w 3 deg lac-postpart). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.